Organic food

“hey BM..I posted that link before you ;)

how ya been?”

“bear - my CSA is definitly cheaper. Helps that they don't pay to be certified organic, which is now a registered trademark (?!?!) and you gotta pay to use it.”

“Doh! I'm doing well, you?

Tech - I can't read about your daughter. I haven't broken a bone yet and I cringe everytime I read about it. I also broke someones wrist once so maybe that helps in the ick factor?”

“I'm with you. I've never had a cast and the thought of one of my bones snapping like a twig turns my stomach. But when it happens to one of your children suddenly things like cleaning up puke and dealing with broken bones become "normal".”

“OMG
“Organic food is like the ultimate in grocery store pretentiousness. Do you thumb you're nose up and talk with a faux British accent too when you shop for organic food?”
PhantomSoul
4:25:36 PM
7/10/07

And just WTF is wrong with this behavior :op”

“BM,I am doing good. I would like to get up your way one day for a hike.

tnt, glad your daughter didn't need to see the surgeon.

I sent an email to a local CSA organic farm who does yr round crops. I asked about what they have to offer in the winter time. I had rather my money go to a local farmer than a grocery chain”

“Wow Tech, I hope she heals up quickly. Codeine can be terrible.”

“I'm glade nobody mentioned COOP.”

“I'd rather get to the smokies one day. Maybe during a warm dry spell?

And nothing's worse than Y2's faux British accent. Especially when he's drunk.”

“bm, you don't want it to warm or dry as the water sources start to dry up. If you ever make it down this way let me know..email on profile”

“"And nothing's worse than Y2's faux British accent. Especially when he's drunk."

I'm hip, man.


I'll go with y'all to the Smokies!!

What the hell does the Confederate States of America have to do with organic farming??”

“organic means a lot for meat, dairy, and eggs too. here's an article about label definitions
http://www.hsus.org/farm/resources/pubs/meat_and_dairy_labels.html

and here's what wikipedia has to say about all the nastiness associated with the hormones they use in non-organic beef
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin”

“I think I might like left coast ownership of TT.

But I still love you, matt!

;) :p”

“Oh, this is rich! What, (please tell me), is snobby about picking bugs off plants by hand, spreading manure instead of spraying chemicals?! I am an organic gardener and believe me, there's much more fanciness associated with those Miracle Grow spraying, Scotts brand green lawn, water wasting, run-off ruining rivers, FREAKS.”

“CSA = community-supported agriculture.”

“You tell 'em sass!

Or how about letting animals mate by actually #&%!$ing?”

“Funny Story on the coffee XL.

Interestingly enough, the newsletter "Everyday Cheapskate" recommends roasting your own as a way to save money and get better coffee:

http://www.cheapskatemonthly.com/ed_cheapskate.asp?ID=13154”

“Thanks Cliffy!

Bearmagnet likes to watch.”

“So how much stuff do you get per week with the CSA shares? I found a few in my area that run about $400 per season. Sounds kind of high on the surface so I'm just wondering how much ya get?”

“I checked the same thing and wondered too Nigal.”

“Can you break down the cost per week? And I think stuff depends on farmer and type of farm. Generally Buying into a CSA is buying into the farm. It's an investment. If the farm does well, you profit from it. If it has a bad season, you don't get as much bang for your buck.

Our friends farm has a waiting list to get in. I would say a majority of their customers are quite happy with the yearly returns and are loyal.”

“An article appeared on cnn.com today about CSA's. http://robots.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/07/10/farm.to.you.ap/index.html


"If the farm does well, you profit from it. If it has a bad season, you don't get as much bang for your buck." - BM

Very true, its like an investment on Wall Street - some years you do great, some you don't. I bought a "half share" at my CSA and so far this year I get a shopping bag stuffed full of veggies each week. Its too much for our family of 4, but I expect I'll have to get a full share once they become teenagers. Here's a list of what we got in yesterday's bag:

Beans – Just like last year, only more so… a veritable “bean-anza” of lovely green and burgundy beans! They’re early and ample: enjoy them steamed, stir-fried, in soups or other dishes, or preserve some for the off-season.
Broccoli – Last of the Spring sowing! Broccoli is rich in antioxidants and fiber. Try steamed with rice and seasoning, or top with a squeeze of lemon for a low-calorie treat, grated cheese for a luxurious delight. Herbs that enhance the flavor of broccoli include basil, dill, garlic, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, tarragon and thyme.
Cauliflower – In the same family as broccoli (Cruciferae, from the cross-shaped leaf pattern), cauliflower is also very rich in antioxidants and fiber. Try mashing cauliflower with cheese and herbs as a flavorful alternative to mashed potatoes. Some will receive cabbage, others will get a lovely head of…
Cabbage – High in vitamin C (like its cousins broccoli and cauliflower), cabbage is very versatile. It may be chopped, shredded, or grated. Another way to use cabbage is to use the leaf as a wrap – fill with a rice or veggie dish, wrap and bake in the oven at medium heat.
Lettuce – “Lettuce” entertain you! Back after a week’s hiatus. Select your choice of red or green leafy lettuces. So much better than “iceberg,” and so much fresher than store-bought “mesclun mixes”! Delicious in salads, sand¬wiches, or use your imagination.
Squash – What would summer be without summer squash? Select from zucchini, yellow crookneck, and two types of patty-pan. The patty-pan squash is a small, saucer-shaped squash. Its cream-colored flesh is more dense and slightly sweeter than that of zucchini, and is delicious stuffed. Scrape out the seeds and some of the flesh, and parboil the remaining shell. Coarsely chop the removed seeds and flesh and sautée in olive oil or butter with chopped onion and mushrooms. Spoon into the shell, top with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, and bake until done. Yummy! Each type of squash is entirely edible (skin, flesh, and seeds). See “Vegetable of the Week” for more ideas…
Purslane – Called by some a “weed,” purslane is a naturally occurring herbaceous plant with a mildly sour, tangy taste that goes extremely well in salads.
Basil – A delicious and fragrant herb – add to pasta sauces, make a fresh tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (toss in olive oil), or pesto (Combine basil, garlic, onion, olive oil (parmesean cheese optional also) to use on breads, salads, or pasta. Please note: Basil should be placed in a vase with water, as you would cut flowers. Most refrigerators are too cold and tend to blacken the leaves.
Parsley – More than just a garnish! Use in salads, soup stocks, or in place of part of the basil when making pesto.
Bread – Bread this week remains to be announced…
Flowers –This week’s bouquet will include Bee Balm, Zinnias, Dillflowers, Meadow Rue, and Snowball Hydrangea.


In past weeks we have also received bok choi, peas, mint, kale, beets, chard, oregano, green onions, mizuna, and kohlrabi.”

“Oh, and Nigal, my half-share costs me about $18 per week. The contents of last week's bag was way more than that retail. CSA's cut out all the middlemen.”

“techntrek, have you looked into doing a CSA with a farm that grows winter crops? I got back a reply from one whose season starts Oct and runs thru the end of Strawberry season in May. The cost was 35.00 bi-weekly I think. I am going to have them send me an application just to check it out”

“No, I haven't looked into winter crops yet. I'm still in the process of wading into the CSA pool, haven't had the chance to get into the deep end yet (grin).

This was a day for articles on CSA/organic farming. Here's one I found on organic farming on New Scientist: http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn12245-organic-farming-could-feed-the-world.html”

“Chart of "organic" brands and who owns them
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/features/009/009buyingorganic.html”

“Those anti-capitalists are gonna be pissed.”